Nov 1, 2003 To: Listings/Critics/Features From: JAZZ PROMO SERVICES Press Contact: JIM EIGO, jazzpromo@earthlink.net Please feel free to forward ! Thursday, Dec 4, 2003 DENIS CHARLES 70TH BIRTHDAY MEMORIAL CELEBRATION at Tonic 107 NORFOLK btw Delancey and Rivington 212-358-7504 www.tonicnyc.com Sets at 8, 10 and midnight Evening admission $15 F train to Delancey J / M / or Z trains to Essex Walk east on Delancey (towards Williamsburg Bridge) 1st left on to Norfolk St This is going to be a FABULOUS night!! Celebrating the spirit of Denis "Jazz" Charles (Dec 4, 1933- Mar 24, 1998) on Thursday, Dec 4, - his 70th birthday! Denis was a child star bongo player from St. Croix. He came to NY and fell for be-bop, practicing with his drumsticks under the sheets as a teenager. Meeting Art Blakey put him in touch with a wonderful, African energy that was as slick as it was raw! He came into the spotlight as Cecil Taylor's first drummer. Through the 70s he recorded with Archie Shepp, Sonny Rollins, Steve Lacy and Gil Evans. Part of both the Beat and the Hippie scene in NYC, he worked with dancers and poets, including Amiri Baraka. In the 80's his drumming continued to evolve, working with Sirone, Billy Bang, and Jemeel Moondoc, and completing his own "Queen Mary" recording for the Silkheart label. The 90s saw him working with French Jazz musicians, as well as his friend, Charles Tyler then living in Paris. Throughout the 90s he recorded with Evelyn Blakey, Joel Forrester's People Like Us, Thomas Borgmann, Rick Della Ratta, Frank Lowe and Susie Ibarra. He continued touring in Europe, Japan and South America, participating in several Vision Festivals in NYC. Denis had a wonderful and unusual spirit- as evidenced by the wonderful group of people coming together to share that spirit again in this Celebration of Denis' 70th Birthday at TONIC . WE WILL HAVE THE ENTIRE EVENING full of music, dance and poetry! There will be three "shows", 8, 10 and midnight followed by a jam session. We will have tap dancers and poets and African dancers and drummers and a stilt walker! Confirmed folks include: Evelyn Blakey, Caren Pepper, Jemeel Moondoc & Connie Carothers, John Voight, Roxanne Butterfly, Roy Campbell, Ted Curson, Buell Niedlinger, Jimmy Vass, Joel Forrester & People Like Us, Montego Joe, Sabir Mateen, Hayes Greenfield, Dave Hofstra, Dave Sewelson, MaryBeth O'Hara, Pheeroan Aklaff, Alex Lodico, Vienna Carol, Jesse Collins Quintet, Rashied Ali, Yoshiko Miura, Rick Della Ratta & Jazz for Peace Band, Joe Gallant, William Parker, painter Marine Penvern, Angela Paccione, sound artist, and surprise guests, including Henry Grimes and Nathan Breedlove!! BE THERE OR BE SQUARE! In the great spirit of Denis Charles, 'it's gonna be a blast!!" For more on this celebration visit: www.denischarles.com & tonicnyc.com email :Mmaclennan@aol.com cell :917 687 5334